Jerry Rice jokingly advised 49ers to keep practicing in Youngstown as they did between two road games in the east

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Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice,80, on the field before halftime celebration retirement of his jersey number 80 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif. on Monday, September 20, 2010. (Josie Lepe/Mercury News)

Apparently he did. The Jo, Lo and Dibs show has the audio to prove it.

Rice recently dropped by 95.7 The Game to discuss the 49ers’ 2-0 start. In one sense, it’s a footnote, two road wins over patsies. In another sense, it’s intoxicating, the first time the team has been 2-0 since 2012.

The proof was in Rice’s enthusiasm when he was asked what the 49ers need to improve on to make a postseason berth a reality.

“Not have so many turnovers,” he said. “Jimmy G had an interception (against Cincinnati), but he really managed the game well, about 297 yards, three touchdowns. He got his playmakers into the ball game. The defense stood up. (Kwon) Alexander had an interception. That’s four interceptions for the 49ers which is unbelievable after last year.”

“I think they might just have to go back and practice in Youngstown,” Rice said, chuckling. “They gotta stay in that Holiday Inn, they have to eat that ice cream, they just have to focus on football. If they do that, man, I feel like they have a great chance of winning the Super Bowl.”

Oh good lord.

In Rice’s defense, he is too young to know that the current 49ers are following in the footsteps of another 49ers team.

Welcome to 1980, Bill Walsh’s second season as head coach. His first was a 2-14 tire fire. But the 1980 squad came out of the chute winning its first three games — two on the road, one in overtime. It was their first three-game win streak in four years. And quicker than you could say “false positive” the three-game win streak turned into a seven-game losing streak.

Who knows how these 49ers will build on their fast start. High marks to Rice for following the team closely and lending an encouraging voice to the discussion.

For example, coach Kyle Shanahan’s offensive creativity: “The (38-yard touchdown reception) with Marquise Goodwin (against Cincinnati),” Rice said. “It was like we should give (Shanahan) an Oscar. (Goodwin) was coming down the line like he was just going to block and he slid out. It was almost like pitch and catch, like they were just in practice. He was so wide open, all Jimmy G. had to do is deliver the football and he did that.”

Then there is the development of rookie receiver Deebo Samuel, who caught a 2-yard TD pass last Sunday. “What I like about him is his physicality,” Rice said. “Once he catches the football he’s almost a running back and he wants to punish people. He’s only going to get better.

“I don’t want to jump the gun, Rice said, “but I’m starting to feel it a little bit. These guys are looking really, really like contenders.”

Gary Peterson is a sports writer for the Bay Area News Group. His prior assignments included 31 years as a sports columnist, serving as a general assignment news reporter, covering courts and writing a metro column before finding his way back to sports.